William
Rufus (the Red), the second surviving son of William
the Conqueror and
Matilda
of Flanders,
was born in about 1056. As a child he was educated by Lanfranc
of Pavia. When he was a young man he obtained the name Rufus because
of his ruddy complexion.
In 1077, his brother Robert
Curthose
suggested that he should
become the ruler of Normandy and Maine.
When William
the Conqueror
refused, Robert rebelled
and attempted to seize Rouen. William Rufus took the side of his father
and helped him put down the rebellion. Robert was forced to flee and
established himself at Gerberoi. Robert was besieged at Gerberoi and
during the fighting Rufus was wounded. In 1080 Matilda
of Flanders managed to persuade her husband and son to
end their feud.
Just before William
the Conqueror
died he decided that William
Rufus, rather than his older brother, Robert
Curthose,
should be king of England. He was crowned by Lanfranc,
the Archbishop of Canterbury, on 26th September, 1087.
The following year some
Normans,
including
Odo
of Bayeux,
Robert
of Mortain,
Richard
Fitz Gilbert,
William
Fitz Osbern
and Geoffrey
of Coutances, led
a rebellion against the rule of Rufus in order to place
